Whatsoever Things Are True
by Dan Coburn
Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church
pastordan@mtida.net
God loves diversity. Just look around. "For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." Rev. 5:9   
God also loves unity among His people, and they (unity and diversity), are not mutually exclusive. "behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133:1   In what has been coined as "the High Priestly Prayer", Jesus said: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word: that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one".  John 17:20-22   
The implication is that absent sacrificial loving unity, the world will look at us as windbags.  Nugget:  Because God loves unity so much, guess who hates it.  The Church has since the beginning,  been under attack by the evil one. In Corinth, they fought over which leader to follow. Paul wrote to the Church at Galatia - "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another". Gal. 5:15   Ephesus as well as Colossi had problems (that's what happens when you let people in Church). Philippi had lots of strife including two bickering women in particular. The first Hebrew Church fought over two groups of widows and what hoops (works) the new Gentile converts had to jump through in order to be good "Jewish Christians" - Acts 15. Tragically, if you have been in Church for any length of time, you have seen a big Church Fuss, which is as heart breaking as any divorce. 
Nugget: In light of the make-up of any Church, unity is supernatural. Lost and saved alike instinctively know this, which is why Jesus said "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". John 13:35   We have deferent giftings we fuss about;  come from different backgrounds and we all have different historical, geographical and denominational influences (baggage). It really is a miracle we get along at all. It is only in Him we have unity. For some Churches, a display of emotion is discouraged. For some an "Amen" would cause someone to faint. We all have preferences in music. Some like southern gospel. Some prefer an organ over a piano. Some like the old time hymns and others cutting edge contemporary.  In preaching, one may enjoy a "fireside chat" while some need a "fire and brimstone" message complete with frothing. I had one man chastise me because I wander around while preaching. He said "the second you leave that pulpit, you are out of the Holy Spirit's will, and He can't use you". 
Nugget: The Truth is the Truth regardless (in spite of) the messenger or the venue, which brings me to the point. We are commanded to love one another, Period. Don't confuse Love with condemning tolerance, but remember Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment is replied: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. 22:37-40   
Nugget:  A faith that can't be tested, can't be trusted. The way God teaches us love is by surrounding us with un-lovely people. Most disunity in Church is caused by folks who haven't developed an outward focus, but are still seeing what God, religion and Church can do for them. They haven't really grabbed onto the disciple bearing fruit concept. When you aren't rowing, about the only thing left is to rock the boat - (soldiers fight each other during peace time). Do you not know we are in a war? Eph. 6   How do you show God and the world you love Him?  By loving each other - sacrificially, and especially when it hurts or is not reciprocated. Next time we will look at some specifics, but for now, pick up an oar. God bless. 

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

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